Hemorrhagic panesophagitis after acute organophosphorus poisoning

Assessment of exogenous melatonin action on mouse liver cells after exposure to soman

Melatonin is a hormone with many different biological activities and therefore seems to be an important factor reducing the harmful effects caused by toxic organophosphorus compounds. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the protective effect of melatonin on liver cells of mice challenged with chemical warfare agent-soman. The study was conducted at the level of ultrastructural and biochemical changes (analysis of the activity of model lysosomal enzymes and assessment of the level of lipid peroxidation). Significant biochemical and ultrastructural changes were found in the studied mouse hepatocytes after administration of soman alone, and soman in combination with melatonin, and the scope of the disclosed changes was dependent on the time of action of the examined factors. Melatonin has shown protective action, shielding liver cells from toxic effects of soman, which may result from its antioxidant properties and stimulation of the lysosomal compartment, the system coordinating the isolation and removal of cell-threatening processes.

Nephrotic syndrome and acute kidney injury induced by malathion toxicity

We treated a case of acute kidney injury and nephrotic syndrome after malathion inhalation. A 69-year-old Japanese man presented with oedema 15 days after inhalation of malathion, a widely used pesticide. Serum albumin was 2.4 g/dL, urinary protein 8.6 g/gCr and serum creatinine 2.5 mg/dL. Kidney biopsy revealed tubular cell damage, epithelial cell damage in glomeruli and diffuse foot process effacement in electron microscopy. Acute kidney injury progressed to treatment with dialysis. Renal function recovered after corticosteroid administration from the 43rd day after admission. Malathion inhalation should be ruled out as a differential diagnosis in individuals who develop acute kidney injury and nephrotic syndrome, especially in rural-dwelling patients.